I remember the first time I had an OREO (ok..maybe five or six of them). I was sitting at the kitchen table with Grandpa on a summer’s day. I was never one for drinking milk – didn’t like the taste of it but Grandpa said “try these cookies and dunk them in the milk” and that was the magic touch! We both had a hankering for sweet things and it was an easy way to get me to drink the white stuff.
But now, I confess, I am a twister – have been since I was a teen. I am quick to eat the sweet cream inside first. When they came out with Double Stuff OREO, I thought I was in cookie Heaven.
It’s hard to believe that this crunchy sweetness has been around now for this long. But it’s not hard to believe that it’s the world’s most loved cookie.
So, a question….do you “TWIST, LICK OR DUNK?”
Yes, that’s what comedian and host, Colin Mochrie, asked at a recent public birthday party that produced smirks and giggles from the MASSIVE crowd at the Toronto Eaton Centre for the famous OREO cookie! The celebration brought out all the big-time media and singer Jully Black WOWed the crowd into a dancing frenzy! There were OREOs and Natrel Milk for everyone! A global celebration is underway for “milk’s favourite cookie” so let’s raise a glass of milk and PARTY ON!
Here are 10 interesting facts..
1. The OREO biscuit was first created in 1912 by the National Biscuit Company in the U.S.
2. The first OREO cookies are introduced to Canada in 1949 (so was Newfoundland, as it joined the Confederation in March).
3. 50 percent of all OREO eaters pull apart their cookies before eating, with women twisting them open more often than men!?!
4. Every year, more than $1.5 billion of OREO cookies are sold around the world. Canada is the fourth largest number of OREO lovers in the world, following the USA, China and Venezuela.
5. Each OREO cookie face has 12 flowers stamped in the design.
6. It would take a stack of 69,159 OREO cookies to reach the height of the CN Tower in Toronto.
7. Canada’s OREOs are made in Montreal. And in an 8 hour shift, the bakery bakes more than 1.1 million OREO cookies.
8. In addition to the traditional OREO cookie, there are specialty flavours created for global markets. In China, try OREO Green Tea Ice Cream; in Argentina, try OREO in banana and dulce de leche duo.
9. OREO cookies are sold in more than 100 countries worldwide.
10. OREO has created a limited-edition Birthday Cake OREO Cookie to celebrate this year’s 100th birthday! (look for the golden packages in stores)
Here’s a great recipe for your next celebration!
OREO Birthday Cupcakes!
Ingredients:
1 pkg (2-layer size) chocolate cake mix
4 oz semi-sweet baking chocolate, chopped
1/3 cup whipping cream
1 pkg (250 g) cream cheese, softened
6 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened
2 Tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups icing sugar
10 OREO cookies, finely chopped (about 1 cup)
24 maraschino cherries, drained
24 mini OREO coookies
PREPARE cake batter and bake as directed on package for 24 cupcakes; cool completely.
MICROWAVE semi-sweet chocolate and whipping cream in small microwaveable bowl on MEDIUM 1-1/2 min. or until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is well blended, stirring after 1 min. Dip tops of chocolate in chocolate glaze. Refrigerate 10 min. or until firm.
MEANWHILE, beat cream cheese and butter in large bowl with mixer until well blended. Add milk and vanilla; mix well. Gradually beat in sugar until well blended. Stir in chopped cookies.
SPREAD tops of cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. Top with cherries and mini cookies just before serving.
SPECIAL EXTRA: Poke hole in top of each cupcake with handle of wooden spoon; fill with some of the prepared frosting. Dip tops in chocolate glaze; refridgerate 10 min. or until firm. Spread with remaining frosting. Garnish as directed.
Recipe courtesy of Kraft Foods
So, how about you? Do you have any fond memories of sharing OREOs?
Here are some pics from the Birthday Party in Toronto…